After captaining the Young Matildas in the FIFA U20s World Cup, Knights winger Sheridan Gallagher is eyeing another Australian jersey with the Jillaroos.
Gallagher, who played A-League for Wanderers, was a member of Newcastle's premiership winning team after switching codes last year and has continued her impressive form; producing 21 tackle breaks and scoring seven tries in her last six matches.
“I'd love to play for Australia, I think anyone who gets the opportunity to play for their country thrives in it,” said Gallagher, who captained the Young Matildas at the 2022 FIFA Under 20s World Cup in Costa Rica.
I think that's definitely one of my goals is to play for Australia.
“If I do get given that opportunity, I'd, you know, take it with both hands.”
That opportunity may present itself next month with the annual Prime Minister’s XIII game and the Pacific Championships both on the horizon.
But first, the Knights will be focusing on making sure they are playing finals, needing a win against the Cowboys this week to guarantee a spot in this year’s finals series and a chance to add to their two NRLW titles.
After a mixed start to the season, they come into Saturday’s game in North Queensland with a 46-10 win over the Titans last weekend which kept them in top four, with the Eels nipping at their heels.
It was a try-fest with Gallagher leading from the front after crossing the line three times, setting a Knights record for tries scored by a single player in a match. Yasmin Clydesdale also put her mark on the game, scoring two tries in the first half.
After a loss to the Broncos the week before, Gallagher admitted that her team’s stellar performance was off the back of coach Ben Jefferies asking a few hard-hitting questions of the squad.
“He’s [Jefferies] really challenged us as a group, and I know we’ve really welcomed it and there was a rough patch there that we couldn't really find form, but the group worked through it,” Gallagher said.
“Getting towards the end of the season is when we need a peak, and we've got that peak now.”
Gallagher brings her A game
While only Gallagher’s second season playing NRLW; her aspirations to grow within the game are not limited and she is also open to a potential positional switch if given the opportunity.
“I think one goal for me would be to move into the centres, and then hopefully one day, fullback,” Gallagher said.
“But we've got two unbelievable centres in front of me, and outstanding fullback, so I'm happy to learn my craft on the wing and to just watch them, and if I am called upon, I’ll do the job.”
With the must-win trip up to Townsville this weekend to secure a spot in the finals is set to be a tough one, with the Cowboys capable of an upset and with conditions also set to test the players.
“It's going to be a hard game going up to Townsville and playing up there," Gallagher said.
"It's going to be hot - and it's going to be hot for both teams - but I think we're definitely up to the task and we can do the job."
Currently as the ladder reads, Newcastle are on equal points with the fifth placed Eels, with only for-and-against separating the two teams, but Gallagher was confident her squad would be ready to take on finals.
“I think we're pretty confident as a group that we can get there, and when finals roll around it's a different sort of game,” Gallagher said.
“I think that's where everyone wants to be when you enter the competition, and for us to get there again it would be an awesome feat, and to do it with the group of girls that we got, I think would be unbelievable.”
Match: Cowboys v Knights
Round 9 -
home Team
Cowboys
6th Position
away Team
Knights
3rd Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
